Belt tensioning mechanism for auxiliary drive on reel mower cutting unit

ABSTRACT

An auxiliary drive mounted to a reel mower cutting unit includes an auxiliary drive housing with an input shaft rotated by the reel mower cutting unit, an output shaft for rotating an attachment, and a belt transmitting rotational power from the input shaft to the output shaft. An eccentric bearing housing is positioned in an opening in the auxiliary drive housing. The output shaft is inserted through a bore in the eccentric bearing housing that is offset from the center of the eccentric bearing housing. The eccentric bearing housing may be rotated within the opening to tighten the belt by shifting the position of the output shaft with respect to the input shaft.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to auxiliary drives mounted to reel mower cutting units, and specifically to auxiliary drives for attachments such as a conditioner or roller power brush rotatably mounted on a reel mower cutting unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Grass mowing machines with reel mower cutting units are used on golf courses and other turf areas that require grass to be cut very accurately. The cutting units are typically rolled across the surface of the ground by a powered vehicle. The cutting units include a generally cylindrical reel with a plurality of blades that rotate in close proximity to a stationary bedknife fixed with the frame of the cutting unit. Grass is cut by a shearing action between the bedknife and the rotation blades of the reel.

Attachments on reel mower cutting units may be used to improve the quality of the cut, performance, and other turf grooming features. The attachments, such as conditioners, roller power brushes, or turf grooming brushes, may be rotated by auxiliary drives mounted to the reel mower cutting unit and powered by the shaft of the cutting reel. An auxiliary drive may transmit rotational power from the cutting reel shaft to the attachment through a set of gears or a belt on a pair of sprockets or pulleys.

A conditioner, for example, is an attachment used for finer grooming of turf areas such as putting greens, by reducing thatch, slicing stolons, controlling grain, and deflecting material away from the reel and bedknife. A conditioner may stand the grass up for an even, clean cut and truer putting green surface. A typical conditioner includes a number of (for example, 72) closely spaced vertical blades mounted on a horizontal shaft adjacent one of the rollers. The blades may have a diameter of between about 40 and 80 mm, and preferably between about 50 and 65 mm. A conditioner may be counter-rotated to the direction of travel of the cutting unit. An auxiliary drive, sometimes referred to as a conditioner drive, transmits rotational power from the cutting reel shaft to the conditioner. For example, a conditioner drive may include a set of gears that rotate the conditioner at speeds of about 2000 rpm.

A roller power brush is an attachment used to prevent accumulation of grass clippings and other debris on a roller supporting a reel mower cutting unit, so that the cutting unit can maintain a consistent effective height of cut. The brush may be rotatably mounted to the cutting unit above and adjacent the rear roller, for example. The brush may include radially extending bristles on a brush shaft. The brush may be rotated by an auxiliary drive opposite to the direction of travel of the reel mower cutting unit. For example, the auxiliary drive may be a belt drive that transmits rotational power from the cutting reel shaft to the brush through a belt on sprockets that turns the brush at a desired rotational speed.

It is desirable to provide and maintain proper tension of a belt in an auxiliary drive for a reel mower cutting unit. The belt in an auxiliary drive may stretch due to wear and adverse operating conditions. Conventional auxiliary drives lack any belt tightening mechanism, or tightening the belt is very cumbersome. When the belt is tightened, it also is desirable to allow moving the attachment to different settings, while maintaining positive centering of the auxiliary drive output shaft with the attachment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A belt tensioning mechanism is provided for an auxiliary drive mounted to a reel mower cutting unit. The belt tensioning mechanism includes an eccentric bearing housing, through which the rotatable shaft of an attachment may be inserted. The eccentric bearing housing may be pivoted to shift the position of the attachment shaft and thereby tighten the belt. This allows an operator to maintain proper tension of a belt in an auxiliary drive for a reel mower cutting unit. When the belt is tightened, the attachment still can be moved to different settings, while maintaining positive centering of the auxiliary drive output shaft with the attachment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a reel mower cutting unit with auxiliary drives mounted to the cutting unit for a conditioner and a roller power brush according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a reel mower cutting unit with auxiliary drives mounted to the cutting unit for a conditioner and a roller power brush according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of auxiliary drives for a conditioner and a roller power brush in a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded top perspective view of a reel mower cutting unit with auxiliary drives for a conditioner and a roller power brush according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5A is a side view of a reel mower cutting unit with an auxiliary drive for a conditioner mounted to the cutting unit, and the auxiliary drive pivoted to raise the conditioner, according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5B is a side view of a reel mower cutting unit with an auxiliary drive for a conditioner mounted to the cutting unit, and the auxiliary drive pivoted to lower the conditioner, according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5C is a side view of a reel mower cutting unit with an auxiliary drive for a conditioner mounted to the cutting unit, and the retaining clip removed, according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6A is a side view of an auxiliary drive for a roller power brush mounted to a reel mower cutting unit, with the eccentric bearing housing for the belt drive in a first position, according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6B is a side view of an auxiliary drive for a roller power brush mounted to a reel mower cutting unit, with the eccentric bearing housing for the belt drive in a second position, according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6C is a side view of an auxiliary drive for a roller power brush mounted to a reel mower cutting unit, and with the retaining clip removed, according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of auxiliary drives for a conditioner and a roller power brush mounted to a reel mower cutting unit according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a conditioner drive output shaft engageable to the end of a conditioner according to a first embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-8, reel mower cutting unit 100 has front and rear rollers 101, 102 that roll in contact with the ground and support the cutting unit during mowing operations. The reel mower cutting unit includes a generally cylindrical reel 134 having a plurality of blades on cutting reel shaft 104 to rotate about the cutting reel shaft's laterally extending horizontal axis. The cutting reel shaft may be rotated with electric motor 135 or, alternatively, by a hydraulic motor. As the blades rotate they pass in close proximity to bedknife 137 positioned between side panels 109, 110 of the cutting unit frame. The blades and bedknife interact to cut grass with a shearing action as the cutting unit is propelled forward. To adjust the cutting height, front and rear roller adjustment mechanisms 129, 130 may be used to raise and lower the front and rear rollers.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-8, two attachments are shown on reel mower cutting unit 100: conditioner 107 and roller power brush 103. Alternatively, one of the attachments may be a turf grooming brush. Each attachment is rotated by an auxiliary drive.

In one embodiment, conditioner 107 is an attachment mounted to reel mower cutting unit 100 between left and right side panels 109, 110. The conditioner includes a plurality of blades extending radially from a shaft having a first end 114 and second end 165. The conditioner may be rotated opposite to the direction of travel of the reel mower cutting unit, so that the counter-rotating blades can penetrate the turf surface and reduce thatch, grain and stolons.

In one embodiment, conditioner drive 126 includes housing 127 mounted to side panel 110 of the reel mower cutting unit. The conditioner drive is an auxiliary drive unit that transmits rotational power from cutting reel shaft 104 to conditioner 107. The conditioner drive housing encloses a plurality of gears between conditioner drive input shaft 139 and conditioner drive output shaft 140. For example, the conditioner drive may house gears 154, 155, 156 rotatably engaged between the conditioner drive input and output shafts. Inside the conditioner drive housing, gear 154 may be mounted to input shaft 139, which engages gear 155, which engages gear 156 mounted to output shaft 140. The conditioner drive input and output shafts may be parallel to each other.

In one embodiment, conditioner drive housing 127 is mounted to reel mower cutting unit 100 with retaining clip 144. The retaining clip allows adjusting the depth of engagement of conditioner 107 with the turf, while maintaining positive centering of conditioner drive input and output shafts 139, 140 on cutting reel shaft 104 and conditioner shaft 114 respectively. For example, the first, externally splined end of conditioner drive input shaft 139 releasably engages the internally splined end 112 of cutting reel shaft 104, and is coaxial with the reel shaft.

In one embodiment, retaining clip 144 engages conditioner drive housing 127 and boss 142 on the side panel of the reel mower. The retaining clip prevents axial separation of the conditioner drive input and output shafts from the reel shaft and conditioner shaft, while permitting the conditioner drive housing to pivot on the reel shaft axis. The retaining clip may hold the conditioner drive housing against the side panel while allowing the conditioner drive housing to pivot sufficiently to move to various different conditioner height settings. The choice of height settings may depend, for example, on the diameter of the conditioner blades.

In one embodiment, retaining clip 144 may be a U-shaped wire form having a pair of preferably parallel legs. Alternatively, the retaining clip may be one or more pins or rods that engage the conditioner drive housing and the side panel of the reel mower cutting unit, while permitting the conditioner drive housing to pivot on the cutting reel axis. If the retaining clip includes two or more parts, the parts may be parallel or non-parallel.

In one embodiment, a plurality of holes 145 are provided in flange 141 of the conditioner drive housing. Each hole extends from the outer diameter of flange 141, through the flange to the internal diameter of the flange, and then from the internal diameter back through to its outer diameter. Retaining clip 144 may be inserted through the holes, so that a portion of each retaining clip passes through the internal diameter of the flange. Flange 141 may have an internal diameter that fits snugly on boss 142 on side panel 110, but can pivot on the boss. When flange 141 is positioned on boss 142, retaining clip may be inserted through the holes so that the portion of the retaining clip that passes through the flange's internal diameter captures groove 143 or slot in the outer perimeter of boss 142. For example, the retaining clip may be a one-piece U-shaped wire form having a pair of legs that are spaced apart less than the internal diameter of flange 141, so that the legs of the clip can enter and capture groove 143 in boss 142.

Alternatively, the holes may be provided in a boss on the side panel of the cutting unit, and the groove may be provided in the flange of the conditioner drive housing. A retaining clip may be inserted through holes in the boss on the side panel of the cutting unit, and into a groove or slot in a flange portion of the conditioner drive housing. The retaining clip may axially retain the conditioner drive input shaft to the reel shaft, but allow the conditioner drive housing to pivot with respect to the reel mower cutting unit for adjusting the conditioner's depth of engagement.

In one embodiment, an attachment, such as conditioner 107, may be quickly attached or detached from the output shaft of an auxiliary drive, such as a conditioner drive, without opening or disassembling the auxiliary drive. The connection between the auxiliary drive output shaft and the attachment is external to the auxiliary drive.

In one embodiment, conditioner 107 has a hollow or tubular first end 114. Collet 151 is inserted into the first end of the conditioner. Then, conditioner drive output shaft 140, which extends from conditioner drive 126, is inserted through collet 151 into first end 114. The collet aligns output shaft 140 into the first end 114 of the conditioner. Output shaft 140 has a split end 161 that engages transverse pin 162. The first end 114 of the conditioner is externally threaded, and nut 152 is threaded onto it. Nut 152 has a rim that tightens the collet radially against conditioner drive output shaft 140. To disengage conditioner 107 from conditioner drive 126, nut 152 may be loosened from the first end of the conditioner. Conditioner 107 then may be removed from the reel mower cutting unit by removing the conditioner drive housing and loosening nut 164 from the second end 165 of the conditioner.

Alternatively, the conditioner drive output shaft may be hollow and externally threaded. The first end of the conditioner may be inserted through a collet in the conditioner drive output shaft and tightened with a nut having a rim that urges the collet to grip the shaft inside the collet. The conditioner drive output shaft is coaxially engaged to the conditioner outside the conditioner drive housing.

In one embodiment, roller power brush 103 is an attachment mounted to reel mower cutting unit 100 above and adjacent rear roller 102. The roller power brush includes radially extending bristles fixed to brush shaft 108. The brush may be rotated by an auxiliary drive, or belt drive, opposite to the direction of travel of the reel mower cutting unit, so that the brush can remove grass clippings and debris from the rear roller during mowing operations.

In one embodiment, belt drive 111 is an auxiliary drive unit mounted to cutting unit 100 and/or to conditioner drive 126. The belt drive transmits rotational power from cutting reel shaft 104 and/or input shaft 139, to output shaft 108 which may be the brush shaft. The belt drive may include endless belt 106 around input sprocket 105 on the input shaft and output sprocket 122 on the output shaft. The belt drive input sprocket may be mounted on the same input shaft 139 as the conditioner drive input shaft extending through the conditioner drive. The belt may be enclosed within belt drive housing 124 and housing cover 125.

In one embodiment, belt drive housing 124 may be mounted to conditioner drive 126 and/or reel mower cutting unit 100 with retaining clip 146. The retaining clip allows adjusting the spacing of brush 103 with respect to rear roller 102, while maintaining positive centering of the belt drive with input shaft 139 and brush shaft 108.

In one embodiment, retaining clip 146 engages belt drive housing 124 and boss 148 on the conditioner drive. The retaining clip prevents axial separation of the belt drive from input shaft 139, while permitting the belt drive housing to pivot on the input shaft or reel shaft axis. The retaining clip may hold the belt drive housing against the conditioner drive housing and/or cutting unit while allowing the belt drive to pivot sufficiently to move to various different brush height settings with respect to the rear roller. The choice of height settings may depend, for example, on the condition or length of the brush bristles.

In one embodiment, retaining clip 146 may be a U-shaped wire form having a pair of preferably parallel legs. Alternatively, the retaining clip may be one or more pins or rods that engage the belt drive housing and conditioner drive housing or side panel of the reel mower cutting unit, while permitting the belt drive housing to pivot on the cutting reel axis. If the retaining clip includes two or more parts, the parts may be parallel or non-parallel.

In one embodiment, a plurality of holes 147 are located in flange 163 on the belt drive housing. Each hole extends from the outer diameter of flange 163, through the flange to an internal diameter of the flange, and then from the internal diameter back to the outer diameter. Flange 163 may have an internal diameter that fits snugly on boss 148 on conditioner drive housing 127, but can pivot on the boss. When flange 163 is positioned on boss 148, retaining clip may be inserted through the holes so that a portion of the retaining clip passes through the internal diameter of the flange and captures groove 150 or slot in the outer perimeter of boss 148. For example, the retaining clip may be a one-piece U-shaped wire form having a pair of legs that are spaced apart less than the internal diameter of flange 163, so that the legs of the clip can enter and capture groove 150 in boss 148.

Alternatively, the holes may be provided in a boss on the side panel of the conditioner drive housing, and the groove may be provided in the flange of the belt drive housing. A retaining clip may be inserted through holes in the boss on the conditioner drive housing, and into a groove or slot in a flange portion of the belt drive housing. The retaining clip may axially retain the belt drive to input shaft 139, but allow the belt drive housing to pivot with respect to the reel mower cutting unit for adjusting the brush's relationship to the rear roller.

In one embodiment, a belt tensioning system may be used to tighten the belt of auxiliary belt drive 111, if the belt stretches due to wear or adverse conditions. The belt tensioning system may be used to ensure proper engagement between the belt and sprockets 105, 122 on the input and output shafts of a belt drive.

In one embodiment, the belt tensioning system includes eccentric bearing housing 115. The eccentric bearing housing may be mounted in opening 123 in belt drive housing 124. While the eccentric bearing housing remains mounted within opening 123 in the belt drive housing, an operator may manually pivot the eccentric bearing housing to change its orientation and adjust the belt tension.

In one embodiment, the eccentric bearing housing has an internal bore 136 that is offset at least about 5 mm from the center of the eccentric bearing housing. The bore is provided with bearings 118. The output shaft of the auxiliary drive, which may be brush shaft 108, may be inserted into and through bore 136. Sprocket 122 is mounted to the end of output or brush shaft 108 and may be tightened with nut 121.

Pivoting the eccentric bearing housing shifts the axis of the output shaft for the auxiliary drive, or brush shaft 108, thereby changing tension of belt 106. More specifically, pivoting the eccentric bearing housing moves the output shaft for the auxiliary drive closer to or further from input shaft 139. As a result, the belt tension may be modified to compensate for any stretching of the belt.

Additionally, in one embodiment, one or more tightening bolts 117 may engage the outer diameter of eccentric bearing housing 115 to hold the eccentric bearing housing at a desired orientation or position. The tightening bolts may be inserted through the belt drive housing 124 to engage a groove 119 in the outer diameter of the eccentric bearing housing.

Having described a preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. 

1. An auxiliary drive mounted to a reel mower cutting unit, comprising: an auxiliary drive housing with an input shaft rotated by the reel mower cutting unit, an output shaft for rotating an attachment, and a belt transmitting rotational power from the input shaft to the output shaft; and an eccentric bearing housing positionable in an opening in the auxiliary drive housing, the output shaft being insertable through a bore in the eccentric bearing housing that is offset from the center of the eccentric bearing housing, the eccentric bearing housing being rotatable within the opening to tighten the belt by shifting the position of the output shaft with respect to the input shaft.
 2. The auxiliary drive of claim 1 wherein the attachment is a roller power brush.
 3. The auxiliary drive of claim 1 further comprising sprockets on the input and output shafts.
 4. The auxiliary drive of claim 1 further comprising at least one tightening bolt through the auxiliary drive housing to hold the eccentric bearing housing in place.
 5. The auxiliary drive of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary drive housing is pivotable on the input shaft.
 6. The auxiliary drive of claim 1 further comprising a bearing between the output shaft and the bore of the eccentric bearing housing.
 7. An auxiliary drive mounted to a reel mower cutting unit, comprising: an endless belt transmitting rotational power from a cutting reel shaft to a rotatable shaft of an attachment; the rotatable shaft of the attachment inserted through an eccentric bearing housing having an offset bore, the eccentric bearing housing being manually pivotable to shift the position of the rotatable shaft of the attachment to tighten the belt.
 8. The auxiliary drive of claim 7 further comprising an auxiliary drive housing enclosing the endless belt and having an opening in which the eccentric bearing housing is pivotable.
 9. The auxiliary drive of claim 8 wherein the auxiliary drive housing is pivotable on the cutting reel shaft.
 10. The auxiliary drive of claim 7 further comprising a bearing in the offset bore of the eccentric bearing housing.
 11. The auxiliary drive of claim 7 further comprising a sprocket on each of the cutting reel shaft and the rotatable shaft of the attachment.
 12. The auxiliary drive of claim 7 further comprising at least one tightening bolt engaging the eccentric bearing housing.
 13. An auxiliary drive mounted to a reel mower cutting unit, comprising: an attachment having a shaft and an output sprocket mounted to an end of the shaft; a belt in a belt housing, the belt engaging the output sprocket and an input sprocket rotated by a cutting reel shaft; and an eccentric bearing housing through which the attachment shaft extends, the eccentric bearing housing pivotable with respect to the belt housing to move the output sprocket closer to or further from the input sprocket.
 14. The auxiliary drive of claim 13 wherein the belt housing is pivotable on the cutting reel shaft to move the attachment.
 15. The auxiliary drive of claim 13 wherein the eccentric bearing housing is positioned in a circular opening in the belt housing.
 16. The auxiliary drive of claim 13 wherein the eccentric bearing housing includes an internal bore with a bearing.
 17. The auxiliary drive of claim 13 wherein the attachment is a roller power brush. 